There will be no soot in the Fledglings sacks as they FLY through December and into the New Year

[laurenamium]

If your house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and wine along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound (and you may discover a few of our subversions of the vocabularly along the way).

Many thanks to blue for leading the thread through November (and sc for such a good OP, which has been cut and pasted twice!) and I'll post the first babysteps and mission tomorrow evening.

All welcome!!

Good morning all, have just been out for breakfast, yes I can still have breakfast providing its at whetherspoons as they dont fry anything, and I can omit butter and sausages. day 2 of diet going ok, I'm not eating my arm, and I'm getting used to the taste of sweetners, ds1 has a school trip and was in a flap about it this morning as per, panicking about being late and buses leaving without him but on the plus side he got up early and helped the other two with breakfast and managed to get ds2 to get mostly dressed, which is good because even we struggle in that department .

Today I'm totally child free, so I will be bombing around the house making it all sparkley and clean ready for any visitors we may receive over the weekend, and dp will be laying the bloody carpet this weekend so I need to rip some more of it up and put it on mount trashmore and he may just get the hint that it needs doing:)

Right need a ta da list
Fold socks
school run
attempt nap (mostly fail but now feel like one coffee and the world will be ok)
speak to ex.
break diet again and eat the chocolate bought for baking
try to find some trousers in my wardrobe that fit lost a bit of weight and the current one were falling off
put load of washing into dryer.
Strip ds' bed
pin school jumper for mending
finish craft project out for immediate finishing today
pack ds' stuff for going away

Now I need coffee and 15mins to think alternatively I need to just keep going.

Same here sc Has been snowing since I got up at 8 and shows no sign of stopping. Braved the blizzard to post something to NZ for Christmas (not sure if it'll make it in time!). Popped into supermarket to get bits for making soup this afternoon but managed to lose onions somewhere on the way so when everythign thaws someone will find them

Was planning on putting the Christmas tree up now, but DS is screaming upstairs and for some reason refusing to go to sleep.

BBL

upstairs tidied, not cleaned though, then I fell on the computer again, darn the internet !!!

today has been slightly better

wrapped addressed and posted two parcels to Germany done
paid for AA renewal done
more Xmas stockpiling of groceries done
sorted out Xmas day plans with Dh re: family coming over, time of meal etc
where to buy Xmas tree and whendone
civil words with dh done
John Lewis order arrived done...beginning to feel a lot like there are some presents in the house
giant declutter of pile of papers/stationery in pile in kitchen - have hit on brilliant idea of one bin bag just full of Xmas STUFF..then I can categorize it later... done still thrown out loads in process though
spoke to mum done
plucked up courage to ring CBT person done

Dd is off to sleepover this evening, so just have to have courage to take her there at 6pm...off a dual carriage way. Hence thinking again about CBT to beat the driving paranoia..

Ellie that thread alarmed me too. I think we have over last few years spent upwards of £200 annually on each child, although that includes outfits, which perhaps would come under general clothes shopping in the rest of the year. Last year dd got a netbook which was a total pricey misjudgement, as it was too small for her to enjoy fiddling on, so I bought it back off her, and she used the money to buy a camera instead in August I'm holding out on the electronic equipment now because they just break or lose it [or worse still lose the instructions]

Hi all, it's been a long day here work wise and I'm exhausted. Not going to switch laptop on so will just link to tomorrow's baby step from my phone (fingers crossed)

Tomorrow is family fun day

Baby step seven is writing down your routines and starting control journals

BB tomorrow, I'm going to ikea tomorrow with DD so won't have much of a list but will try to catch up!

Evening all,

Quiet on here tonight, hope everyone is relaxing. Our snow only lasted 5 mins but the DCs were very excited.

Swan - hope you managed to get DD dropped off at her friend's ok.

Gossip - hope you are in sparkly and clean surroundings tonight.

Engels - did you get your tree up?

I had a fairly good Flying day, mopped floors, de-cobwebbed ceilings, 4 loads of washing and a good tidy up of toys. Also managed a couple of hours OU work and caught up with where I'm meant to be.

Took the Dcs to see Father Christmas at a local garden centre after school which was lovely (made the mistake of going on a Saturday last time and had to queue for an hour in the cold). They both asked for stuff which they haven't been bought so a bit of hasty Amazon ordering coming up (nothing too expensive luckily). I haven't added up what I've spent on them this year as it is all little bits and bobs rather than one main present, but I will probably put some things aside for their birthdays which are coming up soon after New Year. We will be going out to get a tree over the weekend. On the downside we've all got colds now.

Must write cards, must write cards, must write cards. Night all.

Evening all. Just finished watching The Walking Dead. toffee and anyone else who watches it, i hate stupid american mid season breaks. I sat like this all the way through!

Still no flying to report. Decorating is ongoing. Plastering all done so painting next week. Got to go out and get paint. Still undecided on what colour. Any advice on a small, dark hallway stairs and landing?

Back tomorrow when i may have some flying to report.

Hi all.

Been discharged this evening, house looks like a bomb has gone off, as usual after DS has been in...

DB is visiting from the US with DNeph next weekend.

Epic flying tomorrow...

Ellie - I agree with you about American mid-season breaks . It was a good episode though, wasn't it?

Glad you are home, Trazzles.

Off to bed now. Xmas shopping tomorrow.

The house was nice and tidy when I came in from the school run but then children happened, the children went to bed and I finally finished the glossing !!!! only 3 syns on the diet today so I'm doing well !!! but have a major craving for chocolate right now !!!

Oo, Engelse, we are going to do our tree tonight... (Maybe. Dh is on his way home from the airport)

Have been absent for a day or two Organising My Life.

Kinda.

Bank manager has been really helpful, done a blend and extend on our mortgage to reduce payments, changed payment dates, cancelled some non-essential savings things until we are back on our feet, and arranged for us to access the actual savings we have to tide us over (more complicated than it sounds, as the account is an education savings grant tied thing)... And I got offered a sensible job that will actually help, rather than the last one. Yay! We just have to go into the city to get all the paperwork signed tomorrow.

So, Christmas is back on. and dh got paid today, so we can eat, which is always nice!

Now I have to sort out sensible after school care for ds, so that he has some boundaries and a sensible routine. But at least I'll be able to afford it this time!

My sole plan for tonight is Wine, Dinner, Tree, BUDGET. Which means the annual 'omg, what are we going to buy your mother' routine. This is a vast improvement on where I thought we were going to be, though, which was 'omg, no one is getting any presents'. so, all good!

I've decluttered the dining room and kitchen, too, today. It's not exactly clean and shiny, but there's only a limited amount of crap about, so I am content. I have a pile of shredding to do, as well, as I went through all the loose papers and filed it all in the right place.

Right, WWIII appears to have broken out.

Have a lovely weekend - glad you are home, Trazzles x

Aaargh! Have raised head from extension-related stress (anyone got a voodoo doll of a plumber?) to notice Christmas.

NO presents bought yet and present list has a lot of empty gaps as in 'wtf can I buy for X'. Why are males over the age of 8 so sodding difficult to buy for? And why are 90% of the people to buy for male? Cards? Where's last year's list to crib from? Cards already arriving here!

I have my mother coming for a pre-Christmas visit tomorrow (cue frantic buying of presents; food thankfully already planned), a party here in 1 week's time (planned when finishing day for extn was 4 months ago!), and ditto for a different group of friends a week later. Crisis cleaning will take on a whole new meaning.

And paper clutter! I am really bad at this when times are easy, but now.... this will definitely have to be the 'elephant' task of 15min/day.

Have gone over my 15mins so just to say I shall still be lurking but, like Captain Oates, 'I may be gone some time'.

Happy Christmas if I don't 'see' you before.

Hx

Did get the tree up thanks whoknows - has survived day one (DS doesn't seem that interested in it at the moment). Did you get yours up madwoman ?

I need to do my cards as well - they've started arriving from the UK whihc means I have to ge them out soon or they won't make it. It's only just over 2 weeks till Christmas!

I have done zero Christmas shopping . That's on the list for today as well.

We'll send out a search party if you don't come back Honu

Good luck with flying trazzle . Glad DS is home.

Ellie, we have a half white, half yellow hallway with pale yellow stair treads and white stairs. It doesn't get much light except when the sun is going fdown and it pushes it's way through the glass panels above the front door. The colours always cheer me up (I can't take credit - DH dd it before I met him)

Have been awake on and off since 3. I don't know what it is but I just can't switch my mind off once I wake up.

Didn't stop snowing till late afternoon yesterday so first business of the day afetr we're all up and breakfasted will be to take DS into the back garden to play in or maybe cry at the snow!

Thanks engels. I was thinking of a lemon colour so that might confirm it.

Quick list dump this morning as am struggling to get motivated.

To do:-
Food shop
Paint shop
Carpet shop
General tidy
Local farm shop with dsis for hamper for dmum for xmas
Washing

House is in chaos but have resigned myself to it until decorating is over. Better go and get a shower and get moving.

I forgot to say glad you are home trazzles.

Honu - Best of luck with everything. Sorry it has all been so stressful recently.

Madwoman - so glad to hear you have sorted your finances out so successfully in time for Xmas .

And condolences to all of you who are coping with decorating/building work/flooding at the moment.

Am focusing on Christmas today:

Quick trip to Aldi for cheap stuff
Christmas shopping
Book eyebrow tidy and lash dye for week before Xmas
Buy Xmas tree
Start decorating tree
Crisis clean

Hope you all have a good Saturday.

personally i can't wait until the decorating can get undr way. get to start on the 20th although need to get the pain fairly soon. Taking the calendars down. Don't look at them they are just there. Deciding what to do about the notice board with is cord but am not allow to paint (tendany type stuff) Think i might cover it in fabric and then use diagional ribbons of various colours and patterns. It's a cold room so need a warming colourscheme so something oatmealy kinda thing might be the way i want to go. Can't wait!!!!

Finally had 8hrs sleep in a row and feel almost human. although ahve eaten my own body weight in chocolate over the last few days. Sooo much that needs to be done for decorating prep work though as need to get the paperwork etc done before hand As want the room to go back TIDY. after everything has been moved out rearranged and put back together again. Master bedroom decorating and prettying up Hence why can't wait.

Today's plan is paperwork and possibly mending the book cases that are falling appart. They are rescuable with a bit of batton and some glue. Not much expense and not much effort which is always nice. but there are 3 that need doing. Although might leave them until they have to be moved anyway.

Anyhows it would seem a large cup of coffee is a good place to start so that the brain can be focused. And then perhaps something productive might happen. I have two presents left to get. I box of chocolates and something for ds. I know what he is getting but just not got that organised.

I think i meantioned needing coffee. Best go find otherwise this mind splat will end up epic proportions of rambling waffle.....

Trazzles glad ds is home.

paint not pain
cork not cord
Tennacy (sp) not tendacy
Plus 100s of other mistakes you'llk just have to ignore cos cba with trying to fix them.

Mucho coffee at bitchy's super strenght required me thinks!

Hi, I'd love to join the thread if you don't mind. I have been lurking for the last couple of months and have got to grips with most of the babysteps, but need to move up a gear now. I have next week off work and am planning to blitz the house, then hopefully when I go back to work, I will be able to keep things under control by following the missions.

Hello advent

Pull up a pew and have a .

The naughty corner is over there...

Bitchy how goes your skating decision? I went underground for a bit...
Postponed the tree until tonight as dh was exhausted after his flight, despite incessant twitterings from small people.

Off to the city now to sign all the new finance stuff which will give us about three hours to finish off budget stuff in the car lol, so everything feels like it is under control at last!

Dsil called this morning at 8.30 and woke us up!! Even the kids were still sleeping!! I think we all really need this weekend.

To do:
Finances
Tree!

Neither of which are strictly flying, but it's pretty much my limit, today.

We have a buttermilk/ pale daffodil hall too... as everything is open, it leads off into deep red, lol. I want to paint the kitchen cabinetry white, but dh is not having it. The conversation had been postponed as we were so skint, anyway, but I will end up doing it over the next couple of years. I think it would be far easier to keep clean, as the wood makes me crazy. We have dark grey/ black granite countertops and breakfast bar thingy (it sounds very grand, it isn't. It's a 2 bed apartment overstuffed with five people's worth of crap), and granite seems to come as standard here...

How come everyone is on a decorating bender? (Apart from the flooding - I get that ) Time of the year that everyone wants to be indoors?

Engels, thanks for card reminder. I suspect Monday might be The Day.

Have a lovely weekend!

I postponed the decision. A few changes have occurred and I want to give them time to develop before i make a decision. If they carry on as they have started out then there is no decision to make. but honestly I can't see another team involved in the decision. It will be an all or nothing decision. It would feel disloyal. As much as i want to twat certain individuals. They are on the whole an amazing bunch. Still considering the defection to the dark side though. Although, I don't think I would survive it.

Might need to get up at some point. Haven't had coffee either. Been a nice reading a book in bed kinda day. Very very much needed.

Evening all.

Ta da:-
Paint bought
Carpet bought
Other decorating bits and bobs bought
Trip to lovely farm shop to get hampers for dmum and dmil done
Aldi shop
General tidy downstairs

To be fair the shopping bit of it took 5 hours out of the day as the farm shop is a half hour drive from town and we stopped for lunch. Took dsis with me for a colour eye and dd also came and we actually had a lovely day and very little flying.

In the end i went for a 'calico' paint... a variation on magnolia i believe. I got some lovely flowery wall paper for one wall as well and a biscuit colour carpet which matches in with the wallpaper.

The reason we are decorating so close to xmas madwoman is dmum offered to pay for it to be done as an xmas present. She must have got as sick of looking at a half done monstrosity as me. Glad you got your financial stuff sorted out. A real relief i should think. It is a pita as i cannot even begin to think about putting decorations up until it's finished but hopefully that should be next weekend.

The rubbish thread leader award goes to me!

Link dump off my phone again!

Tomorrow is baby step 9 building a 5 minute room rescue into your daily routine.

Tomorrow is renew your spirit day!

Glad you and your DS are home again trazzles that's great news!

Waves to everyone else! Now to locate and flop into my bed!